Hand-Actuated Fluid Delivery Device Having Triggered Lock for Selectively Limiting Automatic Aspiration Stroke

Abstract

A hand-actuated injector ( 10 ) includes a handle assembly ( 200 ) for providing discharge and aspiration strokes for a plunger ( 108 ). The handle assembly ( 200 ) includes first and second scissor-like handle members ( 204, 212 ) that provide a discharge stroke for the plunger ( 108 ) when manipulated in a first manner, and an aspiration stroke for the plunger ( 108 ) when manipulated in an opposite, second manner. The handle assembly ( 200 ) also includes a meshed-gear locking mechanism or hinge ( 248 ) that selectively prevents or at least limits relative movement between the first and second handle members ( 204, 212 ) in a manner that is associated with providing an aspiration stroke for the plunger ( 108 ).

1 . A hand-held injector comprising:
 a barrel comprising a discharge nozzle;   a plunger movable relative to the barrel and comprising a head disposed within the barrel;   a first handle comprising a first free end portion and a pivot, wherein the first handle is interconnected with the barrel;   a second handle pivotally coupled to the first handle by the pivot, wherein the second handle is interconnected with the plunger, wherein the second handle comprises a first free end portion, and wherein the first and second handles are configured to provide a discharge stroke when the first free end portions of the first and second handles are moved towards each other to move the plunger in the direction of the discharge nozzle, and to provide an aspiration stroke when the first free end portions of the first and second handles are moved away from each other to move the plunger away from the discharge nozzle;   a self-activating lock mounted on the pivot; and   a selectively operable actuator movably connected to the second handle, wherein the actuator comprises a gripping portion, wherein the self-activating lock is configured to limit the first free end portions of the first and second handles from being moved apart when the self-activating lock is engaged by the actuator, and-wherein the actuator is operable to disengage the self-activating lock when the gripping portion of the actuator is moved relative to the second handle and in a direction towards the first handle, and wherein the gripping portion of the actuator is movable in the direction of the first handle to disengage the self-activating lock without moving the first free end portion of the second handle member in the direction of the first free end portion of the first handle member.   
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A hand-powered injector comprising:
 a barrel comprising a discharge nozzle;   a plunger movable relative to the barrel and comprising a head disposed within the barrel;   a first handle comprising a first free end portion, wherein the first handle is interconnected with the barrel;   a second handle comprising a first free end portion that is disposed in the direction of the discharge nozzle relative to the first free end portion of the first handle when the first free end portions are at a maximum spacing, wherein the second handle is interconnected with the plunger, wherein the second handle is pivotally connected to the first handle at a locking hinge, and wherein the locking hinge comprises:
 a stationary gear associated with and maintained in a fixed position relative to the first handle; and 
 a triggered actuator movably associated with the second handle, wherein the actuator comprises a gripping portion engageable by an operator of the hand-held injector, wherein the triggered actuator is operable to engage with the stationary gear to limit the first free end portions of the first and second handles from moving apart when the triggered actuator is left in an initial position, and-wherein the triggered actuator is movable to a disengaged position relative to the stationary gear by moving the gripping portion of the triggered actuator relative to the second handle and in the direction of the first handle to allow the first free end portions of the first and second handles to move apart, and wherein the triggered actuator is movable to the disengaged position relative to the stationary gear by moving the gripping portion of the triggered actuator relative to the second handle and in the direction of the first handle to allow the first free end portion of the second handle to be moved in the direction of the first free end portion of the first handle to provide a discharge stroke without the triggered actuator being engaged with the stationary gear. 
   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 12 , wherein the triggered actuator is pivotal relative to each of the first and second handles and wherein the triggered actuator is pivotally attached to the second handle. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 12 , wherein the triggered actuator is operable to move from a first engaged position with the stationary gear to a second engaged position with the stationary gear as the first free end portions of the first and second handles are moved towards each other. 
     
     
         17 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 16 , wherein the triggered actuator is  1  operable to ratchet along the stationary gear between the first and second engaged positions. 
     
     
         18 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 16 , wherein the triggered actuator is operable to be free of contact with the stationary gear while moving between the first and second engaged positions. 
     
     
         19 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 12 , wherein the stationary gear comprises a series of teeth, and wherein the triggered actuator comprises at least one tooth that is adapted to engage with the series of teeth of the stationary gear. 
     
     
         20 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a biasing member that is adapted to exert a force for biasing the first free end portions of the first and second handles apart.   
     
     
         21 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 20 , wherein the force is operable to bias the triggered actuator and stationary gear into engagement with each other to limit the first free end portions of the first and second handles from being moved apart. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The hand-powered injector of  claim 12 , further comprising a resilient element for biasing the triggered actuator towards the stationary gear. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A hand-actuated fluid delivery device comprising:
 a barrel comprising a discharge nozzle;   a plunger that is movable relative to said barrel and comprising a head disposed within said barrel; and   a handle assembly interconnected with and operable to move said plunger relative to said barrel in both a discharge direction and an aspiration direction, wherein said handle assembly comprises:
 a first handle member comprising a free end portion, a barrel connection portion, and a pivot; 
 a second handle member mounted on said pivot and comprising a free end portion and a plunger connection portion, wherein said free end portion of said second handle member is disposed in the direction of said discharge nozzle relative to said free end portion of said first handle member when said free end portions are at a maximum spacing, wherein said first and second handle members are pivotally connected about a first axis of said pivot at a location on said first handle member that is between its said free end portion and its said barrel connection portion and at a location on said second handle member that is between its said free end portion and its said plunger connection portion, wherein said first and second handle members are configured to move said plunger in said discharge direction when said free end portions of said first and second handle members are moved toward each other and which reduces the spacing between said barrel connection portion and said plunger connection portion, and wherein said first and second handle members are configured to move said plunger in said aspiration direction when said free end portions of said first and second handle members are moved away from each other and which increases the spacing between said barrel connection portion and said plunger connection portion; 
 a plunger lock mounted on said pivot of said first handle member; and 
 an actuator pivotally connected with said second handle member about a second axis that is spaced from said first axis, wherein said actuator is pivotable about said second axis into an engaged position with said plunger lock to limit said free end portions of said first and second handle members from being moved apart, wherein said actuator is manually pivotable by a user about said second axis into a disengaged position relative to said plunger lock to allow said free end portions of said first and second handle members to be moved apart, and wherein said second axis moves about said first axis when said free end portions of said first and second handle members are moved toward each other while said actuator remains in said engaged position with said plunger lock. 
   
     
     
         26 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said handle assembly further comprises at least one biasing member to bias said free end portions of said first and second handle members apart. 
     
     
         27 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said handle assembly further comprises a ratchet, which in turn comprises said plunger lock and said actuator. 
     
     
         28 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said plunger lock is maintained in a fixed position relative to said first handle member. 
     
     
         29 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said plunger lock comprises a gear which in turn comprises a plurality of teeth that are disposed on a perimeter of said gear. 
     
     
         30 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein in a first side view of said hand-actuated fluid delivery device: 1) said second handle member moves counterclockwise about said first axis when said first and second handle members are operated to move said plunger in said discharge direction; and 2) said actuator also moves counterclockwise about said second axis when said actuator is moved into said disengaged position. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said handle assembly further comprises at least one biasing member to bias said actuator into said engaged position. 
     
     
         33 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said actuator is independently movable relative to said second handle member. 
     
     
         34 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said actuator is movable from said engaged position to said disengaged position and said first and second handle members are operable to move said plunger in said discharge direction by a common actuation motion. 
     
     
         35 . The hand-actuated fluid delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis are at least substantially parallel with one another.